George used to pass out business cards that had his rules for living strong on them. Has anyone ever gotten one? I will need to dig around to find mine. He was such a great guy to chat with. I remember his leg press machine in Vegas too. It had gorilla feet for foot placement, hilarious...

Another one of my short stories. I can't remember the year but it was the Hearns/Leonard fight #2 (the one when Leonard should have won but they gave it to Hearns). Anyway, as I mentioned before my uncle was a huge boxing fan and supporter. SO when a big fight came to town he got probably more tickets than anyone in Vegas for free. So, for this fight we (well him) decided to have a big pre-fihgt party at Caesars. So he gets the big two story Fantasy Suite. Probably the most famous suite n Vegas. SO we walk over from the Barbary with the usual gang of thugs. Ranging from Chuck Norris, Richard Rountree to Benny Urquidez and the mayor of Vegas Ron Lurie. Of course I am the entertainment for the hike across the street with my fart machine. The whole time everyone is following me about 20' behind so they are sure to catch the reactions of everyone as I pass by them farting away.

So we get to the suite and open it up. We get there about 2 or 3 hours before the fight. In a matter of minutes the suite has about 50 people in it. Then all of a sudden Sugar Ray comes in to say hi to everyone. Him and Chuck hug and he hugs my uncle and of course he doesn't introduce me cause I am at the food table chowing down. I have my priorities. Then one of our friends comes out of one of the upstairs bedrooms. It is our friend SS. Sukara Sukamto (?) He is a billionaire playboy guy from Hong Kong who is very close friends with my uncle and Chuck. He was upstairs doing some chick while we were eating.

Anyway he comes running down the stairs to shake Ray's hand. He does they hug everyone says good luck including me but I had a cream puff in my hand. Again, I have priorities. So, now SS is hanging downstairs saying hi to everyone.

A little history on SS. He is the son of a guy in Hong Kong who owns city blocks in Hong Kong and throughout China. He owns the First National Bank of Hawaii (I think thats the name). He owned the property where the Hawaii Convention Center is built which he sold for $60 million. On his 30th birthday he chartered a 747 and picked up some of his best friends and they went to Monaco.

My uncle and Chuck always went to Monaco. They always took there wives. One time in Monaco SS picked up on a girl that was simply walking in front of the restaurant they were going in to have dinner. When the got inside she noticed a bunch of old bottles. She said something like "I love old bottle I collect them." So anyway they go inside and get seated for dinner. SS excuses himself from the table. He goes out to the front and tells the guy he wants that bottle. So SS gets the bottle and brings it back to the table. The girl get all excited. Well first SS opens the bottle and pours everyone a glass. Well it ended up that bottle of champagne was $15,000. My uncle told me that story. Another thing SS does is he loves to buy girls Rolex watches. Even if he just meets them.

Another quick tidbit that some of you might know about him. In 2000 I think it was when they had the Grand Opening of the Bellagio, SS came. Well at the airport he was arrested for gambling debts. It appeared he owed Steve Wynn $7 million dollars. Well, from jail SS calls Steve Wynn. Steve Wynn immediately goes and picks up SS personally from the jail and bails him out. They deal was he had to play all night at the Bellagio. SS said that's why I here. Well in the long run Wnn made out cause I think SS lost $12 million that night. I know Stunt or someone might now the eact numbers but that is close. It made the front page of the newspaper in Vegas and Hawaii (cause of the bank connection and the owner getting arrested)

Anyway, back to the party. SO now we have been eating and drinking for about a couple hours. My uncle gets up on the landing and starts yelling for everyone to be quiet. He starts handing out envelopes. The envelopes had out ticket to the fight in it. I open mine up and the first thing I notice was the ticket cost $1,200.00. I was sittng on the first riser. Which is the perfect place to watch any fight cause you are just above the ropes. Well I am standing with Richard Roundtree and we are seeing if we are sitting next to each other or close and we weren't. Then Mike Norris comes up to me. That is one of Chuck's sons. He asks "Keith where are you sitting?" I show him my ticket and he goes bezerk. I say what wrong with you. He says really loud Why does Keith have a better ticket than me. I say what the fuck you talking about. And his ticket was only $800. So he was way behind me. He got so upset that I got a better ticket than him. I told him it was because I am way more important and he stormed off and we didn't talk for a few months.

So we all go to the fight whihc is a nightmare at Caesars back then cause everyone goes through the same turnstile. There is only one turnstiles for about 20,000 people. Unreal. It was allot of fun and all I remember the most is how much everyone booed when they announced Hearns as the winner. After the fight we walked back to the Barbary. Joe and the others played a little at Caesars. I didn't want to.

So that is another Vegas story. SOrry for being so long but Ihave a hard time making stories short. And I know I left out some stuff.

Back in early 90s in one of my many travels through Vegas, going from the misery of divorce in Salt Lake (no, I'm not a Mormon...), back to southern Cal, I stopped to meet and visit with former Mr. America/Universe, George Eiferman. He had this very well equiped gym not to far from the strip. We had some great conversation and George was everything that I had heard about him. He was very soft-spoken and positive, always smiling. But I did sense a deep down level of pain within him, perhaps hurt. He made one comment to me regarding people and the past that I believed somewhat confirmed my suspicions. Not negative mind you. George wasn't like that. But sensitive and reflective. Truly, a decent human being with unusual character. I was honored to have met him.

Before I left, he gave me this HUGE poster of himself, signed with personalcomments. I'll always cherish it. Quality people deserve quality recognition.

HEY, Jay, I also had the honor to know George the last few years of is life and spent some time with him and his new wife in Hawaii while they were special guests at Gold's.

One evening at the contest while George was on stage getting introduced to the audiance, he called me up there and presented me with one of his gold medallions that he had made for special occasions.

I accepted it with thanks and returned to my seat next to his wife and she gave me a big hug and said, "George doesn't just give those to just anyone. You are special to him."

I really appreciated those kind words and that medallion is someplace in safe keeping.

Much later when George was sick in the hospital in Las Vegas, we were on our way to visit him but we got a call to please not tell George that Steeve Reeves had passed away because it would not help him recover as they were very close friends.

For some reason beyond my recollection we never did make that visit to George in the hospital and he passed away soon thereafter.

As I mentioned before about George. When Gold's open up by Wil Friedman, Will hired George just to keep him busy and in the gym. George's closed very soon after Gold's opened and felt bad and knew George wanted to be in the gym. George was defintely an icon

Wern't you with us when we watched his Hercules movie in the upstairs cafeteria while everyone stood around waiting to say "Hello, Steve"? You must have been there. Tommy was there too.

Were you there when Eifferman joined us? Or Pearl? Or Pete?

I didn't realize you were so damn shy!

Only, you should work something out with the GetBig staff to hold some kind of contest to give the winner a trip to the Big Island and a tour of the active part of the volcano. I think you got direct flights to your island now.

You know I probably was there just can't remember. Considering I help you put on the show and was at Gold's everyday. Hey the casting director for lost is my old friend Margeret Doversola. I hadn't talked to her for maybe 8 years. She has been the biggest casting director in Hawaii since she was handling Hawaii Five-O. SHe also did Jake and the Fatman and Magnum PI. I called her in November to say hi to see about getting my oldest daughter on the show LOST. SHe said absolutely Keith I have some parts she would be good for in the flashback scenes. I also hooked my daughter up with my Hawaii agent. Well my less then ambitious daughter never called or went to see Margeret and called my agent once. I swear I can't get her to anything but surf and have fun. I give up trying to make her life easy and fun. She is going to have to learn the hard way. I don't even want to get into trying to get her to play pro tennis or pro soccer. That too screwed me up.

Only, were you in Las Vegas the year Alan Ichinose was entering the USA. I don't recall if he won it that yeart or not but that was one hell of a great time.

I recall it being held atthe Sands Hotel which was a major casino at that time.

Peter was involved in it in some capacity (Gold's Gym Promotion???) and all the good critters showed up to offer him their support .......

I forget these names because I am not a big TV fan by any means, but your karate bud who plays the Tx Ranger (?) was there and so was the actor who wore all that gold around his neck and arms and lots of others.

Pete's daughter was just a little kid running around the hall.

This "sport" was entirely different back then and much more like a huge family reunion.

I think the Vegas of today is a weak version of the old one. In 1980 I went to Las Vegas for the first time with some college friends. We stayed at the Stardust and spent a week (which, for gambling, was 5 days too long!) hitting all the casinos. We had some good luck and lots of bad, but a great time. Eating a steak dinner for $2 and eating 39 cent breakfasts were the high points!Anyways, in that short time I managed to get accosted by a couple hookers who literally ran across the street, almost getting hit by cars on the way. They grabbed my arm and said, you want a sucky-f**cky? Man, I had no spare change, pity...I also, no lie, was approached by a guy who asked me if I wanted to buy a watch and opened his coat, showing about 20 watches hooked to the inside! Classic, just like in Hollywood.We played lots of Blackjack, and some of the woman dealers were just plain mean. Maybe that was their way of getting us $1 bettors off the table I went back to vegas in the late 90's. Looks like a DisneyLand with some gambling thrown in. No charm, man!

Another one of my short stories. I can't remember the year but it was the Hearns/Leonard fight #2 (the one when Leonard should have won but they gave it to Hearns). Anyway, as I mentioned before my uncle was a huge boxing fan and supporter. SO when a big fight came to town he got probably more tickets than anyone in Vegas for free. So, for this fight we (well him) decided to have a big pre-fihgt party at Caesars. So he gets the big two story Fantasy Suite. Probably the most famous suite n Vegas. SO we walk over from the Barbary with the usual gang of thugs. Ranging from Chuck Norris, Richard Rountree to Benny Urquidez and the mayor of Vegas Ron Lurie. Of course I am the entertainment for the hike across the street with my fart machine. The whole time everyone is following me about 20' behind so they are sure to catch the reactions of everyone as I pass by them farting away.

So we get to the suite and open it up. We get there about 2 or 3 hours before the fight. In a matter of minutes the suite has about 50 people in it. Then all of a sudden Sugar Ray comes in to say hi to everyone. Him and Chuck hug and he hugs my uncle and of course he doesn't introduce me cause I am at the food table chowing down. I have my priorities. Then one of our friends comes out of one of the upstairs bedrooms. It is our friend SS. Sukara Sukamto (?) He is a billionaire playboy guy from Hong Kong who is very close friends with my uncle and Chuck. He was upstairs doing some chick while we were eating.

Anyway he comes running down the stairs to shake Ray's hand. He does they hug everyone says good luck including me but I had a cream puff in my hand. Again, I have priorities. So, now SS is hanging downstairs saying hi to everyone.

A little history on SS. He is the son of a guy in Hong Kong who owns city blocks in Hong Kong and throughout China. He owns the First National Bank of Hawaii (I think thats the name). He owned the property where the Hawaii Convention Center is built which he sold for $60 million. On his 30th birthday he chartered a 747 and picked up some of his best friends and they went to Monaco.

My uncle and Chuck always went to Monaco. They always took there wives. One time in Monaco SS picked up on a girl that was simply walking in front of the restaurant they were going in to have dinner. When the got inside she noticed a bunch of old bottles. She said something like "I love old bottle I collect them." So anyway they go inside and get seated for dinner. SS excuses himself from the table. He goes out to the front and tells the guy he wants that bottle. So SS gets the bottle and brings it back to the table. The girl get all excited. Well first SS opens the bottle and pours everyone a glass. Well it ended up that bottle of champagne was $15,000. My uncle told me that story. Another thing SS does is he loves to buy girls Rolex watches. Even if he just meets them.

Another quick tidbit that some of you might know about him. In 2000 I think it was when they had the Grand Opening of the Bellagio, SS came. Well at the airport he was arrested for gambling debts. It appeared he owed Steve Wynn $7 million dollars. Well, from jail SS calls Steve Wynn. Steve Wynn immediately goes and picks up SS personally from the jail and bails him out. They deal was he had to play all night at the Bellagio.

Quote

That, sir, is a story.

SS said that's why I here. Well in the long run Wnn made out cause I think SS lost $12 million that night. I know Stunt or someone might now the eact numbers but that is close. It made the front page of the newspaper in Vegas and Hawaii (cause of the bank connection and the owner getting arrested)

Anyway, back to the party. SO now we have been eating and drinking for about a couple hours. My uncle gets up on the landing and starts yelling for everyone to be quiet. He starts handing out envelopes. The envelopes had out ticket to the fight in it. I open mine up and the first thing I notice was the ticket cost $1,200.00. I was sittng on the first riser. Which is the perfect place to watch any fight cause you are just above the ropes. Well I am standing with Richard Roundtree and we are seeing if we are sitting next to each other or close and we weren't. Then Mike Norris comes up to me. That is one of Chuck's sons. He asks "Keith where are you sitting?" I show him my ticket and he goes bezerk. I say what wrong with you. He says really loud Why does Keith have a better ticket than me. I say what the f**k you talking about. And his ticket was only $800. So he was way behind me. He got so upset that I got a better ticket than him. I told him it was because I am way more important and he stormed off and we didn't talk for a few months.

So we all go to the fight whihc is a nightmare at Caesars back then cause everyone goes through the same turnstile. There is only one turnstiles for about 20,000 people. Unreal. It was allot of fun and all I remember the most is how much everyone booed when they announced Hearns as the winner. After the fight we walked back to the Barbary. Joe and the others played a little at Caesars. I didn't want to.

So that is another Vegas story. SOrry for being so long but Ihave a hard time making stories short. And I know I left out some stuff.

I have a quick story. not as good as Keith's but it's pretty humorous....

I went to Vegas last Super Bowl weekend with my girlfriend. We have gone every year on that weekend, because George Strait plays the MGM Grand, and I am big fan of his. Anyway, my best friend moved there about 2 years ago, and we go with him and his girlfriend. The four of us were lucky and got free tickets this year, and we went to dinner and then headed for the arena. We are getting seated and not only were the tickets free, but were 4th row by the aisle he was coming to the stage from. I later found out that the tickets were in the special comped section were VIP's get to sit. The president of the Mirage was four rows ahead of us. So, we see the show and the arena is clearing out. I am sitting there with my girlfriend waiting for the crowds to lighten to leave. Then these 3 Mexican men approach me. They tell me that they came to the show all the way from Mexico, and wanted a picture with me. I said Sure and they were THRILLED. The three of them took turns taking a pic with me and very extrememly grateful, shaking my hand acting like they were priviliged to get a picture with me. My girlfriend is laughing and all the casino VIP's in front of us were looking and talking to themselved like "Who is this guy" "IS he SOMEBODY" considering I was in the special comped section they probably thought I was someone. So I have long hair and at the time was sporting a very heavy full beard, swo I have NO clue who they even thought I could be outside of Jesus. Anyway, we leave and my best friend and his girlfriend had left a little earlier to go to the bathroom and we met them in the lobby and told them what happened. Then my buddy becomes hellbent to try to find the guys to see who they thought I was. I said that I want to see what they do when they find out I'm NOT whoever they thought I was...

So, it was my 15 seconds to see what it would be like to have fans or be famous LOL

I'm starting this topic cause I think it would be cool to hear inspirational stories. They make me feel good and they make others feels good. Sometimes it takes reading others experiences to get yourself "up" or in the mood. It's like when I go see a movie that inspires me, I want to go do something. I mean how of us came out of the theater after watching Rocky hitting and boxing everyone. And going home and starting to drink raw eggs. So put down some inspirational stories that make us feel good or make us feel sad, cause sometimes feeling sad is good. It makes you realize how good some of us really got it.

Okay my first one. And this one gets me everytime I tell it to someone. Very hard for me not to get teared up when I think about this time. (Yes I am now)

Anyway I was a celebrity volunteer for the Special Olympics. For about 3 years I spent allot of time traveling around the country working with the Special Olympics as a volunteer to help encourage the kids and also put on demonstrations and hold clinics for the kids. At time Rafer Johnson was the President of the Special Olympics. I met with him and Eunice Shriver (who invented the Special Olympics with her husband Sargent, and is also Maria Shrivers parents) and we were looking into having armwrestling as part of the Special Olympics. Well that didn't last to long cause it is a very long and very hard and expensive ordeal. You literally have to have EVERY chapter around the world not only have it as a demonstration sport first but 100% of them have to approve it.

SO I gave up on that idea but still brought my table to every Special Olympics I went too. And at every single event I ever went to, my clinic was the most packed and participated of them all. I mean EVERYONE wanted to armwrestle.

Well one thing I did was let the kids armwrestle me. I would sometimes armwrestle 300 kids or more a day. It was awesome! Every single kid I let beat me. And every kid woudl go ballastic. They would jump up and down yelling they beat me and everything. It was great. The parents were usually there taking pictures and everything. I loved this.

Well at the International Winter Games in Reno in 1989 I had a great time. met so many people. I played craps and all the other celebrities I would play for and won everyone money. I can't rmemeber her name but that black ice skater who was really pretty just fell in love with me. She was so pretty and we spent allot of time togther. I forgot her name though.

Anyway, on the last day they have the closing ceremonies. This where we all say bye to everyone and other awards are given out. Allot like the closing ceremonies at the regualar Olympics. SO I am standing up watching when all of a sudden this lady comes up to me. She grabs me and takes me back into this hallway. She says "Keith I should kill you" I looked at her and said why what did I do? She said (her son's name that I can't remember) made me stay up all night to call everyone of his friends back in Minnesota to tell them he beat the World Champion. He was so exicited he didn't sleep at all she said. Then she started to cry and grabbed me so hard and just said thank you so many times. She said her son has never been that excited in his entire life. I felt so awesome at that moment I can't tell you.

These kids are some of the best anywhere on earth. I truly loved working with them. In fact it was the Hawaii team that saw me at these games and the President asking me to come to Hawaii that I would be a huge hit there.

Whenever I think of stuff like this I see exactly how much of a pussy I am. I can't believe I am letting what happened to me affect me so much. Not sure why it does, but I will someday hopefully be an inspiration like these kids. Then I'll be alright.

I gotta a zilliion of these. If you don't like them just tell me and I'll stop, no problem, just thought I'd share

No Kieth by all means keep them coming! It is great to hear stories like these. So much crap going on around the world and what we take for granted, little things, mean so much to someone else. Mad respect for doing that Kieth!

Great start and story, Only. Pretty hard to top it so I'll be happy if I canjust perhaps compliment it a little.

A great inspiration to me early on was Bob Mathias, decathlon Olympicchampion (twice!!). After watching the "Bob Mathias" movie, more like aself-acted documentary, I was enrathed by this man and what he overcameas a kid with polio. May sound silly but that movie touched and moved me ina way that I still think about to this day; and it brought tears to my eye(I bet it would yours, too...).

It made me believe that anything in life is possible. And that one should nevergive up. Mathias was told he would probably never walk again, yet, years later he would walk to the top of the podium to accept gold medal honors at the Olympic Games, after excelling in an array of wide-ranging sports. Really unheard of what with his background and previous crippling condition. Moreover, he repeated the feat again.

Mathias went on to serve in the Marine Corps and as a very popular Congressman.

I had the priviledge of meeting him in 1967-68 at the Tulare (northern Cal area)county fair. I was in charge of a team of Marines to raise and lower the flag(colors) and escort event dignitaries (including California beauty queens). Ata special presentation, Mathias did his political and representative duties, thenshook each one of our hands as he went down our ranks.

I've shaken the hands of M. Ali, Arnold, Joe Frazier, and Floyd Patterson, amongothers (including other famous Marines, and everyday basic veterans) but thehandshake from Bob Mathias was THE most definitive of my life.